Can You Turn Left at a Red Light in the Left-Turn Waiting Area?
3 Answers
You cannot turn left at a red light in the left-turn waiting area. Here are the details: 1. When entering the left-turn waiting area, if the straight-through signal is red, you cannot enter the left-turn waiting area: entering the left-turn waiting area at this time would interfere with the traffic flow from other directions. You can only enter when the light is green. However, if the light turns red just as you enter the left-turn waiting area, you may proceed with the left turn. 2. The left-turn waiting area is designated for left-turn lane vehicles to move forward into the waiting zone when the straight-through signal for the same direction turns green: you must wait for the signal to change before making the turn. The left-turn lane is extended with a several-meter-long white dashed box that connects directly to the middle of the road. This white dashed box marks the left-turn waiting area.
I remember when I was taking my driver's license test, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that you must never turn left when the light is red in the left-turn waiting zone—you have to wait until it turns green. At the time, I thought that area was an opportunity, but after actual driving experience, I realized the waiting zone is just for queuing up early to reduce congestion. Turning before the light turns green is a violation and can easily lead to collisions with pedestrians or oncoming vehicles. Once, I witnessed a driver running a red light to turn left and ended up scraping a cyclist, resulting in a ticket and demerit points from the police. Since then, I’ve made it a habit: even if there are only a few seconds left on the green light, I’ll stop in the waiting zone and wait for the next cycle. Safety first is far more important than rushing. Rules aren’t meant to be broken—they protect all of us. Intersections in cities often have heavy surveillance, so don’t take chances. New drivers, especially, should pay attention to this and review driving manuals or practice with simulation apps.
In traffic regulations, it's an ironclad rule that left turns are prohibited when the left-turn waiting zone signal is red. This area is designed to optimize left-turn traffic flow, but a red light means stop. Forcing a left turn not only violates the law but may also result in fines, demerit points, or accident liability. Personally, I believe everyone should understand traffic signals' purpose: they manage multi-directional traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Stopping in the waiting zone during red lights is safe, while turning multiplies risks. During rush hours, I often see impatient drivers taking risks that cause rear-end collisions. To avoid trouble, I make it a habit to observe signal patterns at intersections for early judgment. The key to safe driving lies in patience and rule compliance—don't let trailing vehicles pressure you into hasty moves. In summary, when in the waiting zone, stop and stay put at red lights.
